PLANET
HEALTH
MATTERS

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Responsibility Isn’t a Feature,
It’s a Starting Point

FOOTWEAR IS A MAJOR FASHION POLLUTER

THE WORLD MAKES 24B SHOES A YEAR, GROWING BY 20% PER DECADE

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FEWER THAN 5% →
Recycled or reused

MOST BUILT FROM FOSSIL–FUEL–BASED MATERIALS →
Harming the planet from the moment they’re made to long after they’re thrown away

ALMOST PLASTIC FREE, HEADING TO ZERO

PLASTICS HARM THE PLANET AT EVERY STEP

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MOST PLASTICS START AS FOSSIL FUELS →
Energy-hungry to make + shedding harmful microplastics their whole lives. When they’re worn out, they usually end up in a landfill, taking centuries to break down

Most children’s footwear is built almost entirely from these fossil-fuel-based materials

WE CHOSE A DIFFERENT PATH →
Natural and biobased first, with only a fraction of the petrochemicals used by most brands.

WE DON'T HIDE PLASTIC IN A NICE STORY

Our focus is on these 4 thrusts:

  • USE NEXT-GEN MATERIALS

    NOT JUST DIFFERENT, BETTER

    We use cutting-edge biobased materials like PLIANT™ + MIRUM® to replace plastics without compromising performance

  • HARNESS MOTHER NATURE

    PERFORMANCE STRAIGHT FROM NATURE

    From breathable wool to plant-based fibres, we choose renewable materials that work with the foot and the planet

  • CUT THE SYNTHETICS

    WHAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THERE, ISN'T

    We’ve minimised synthetic inputs and we name what’s left, no fuzzy labels, no "vegan" plastic excuses

  • NO SPIN, JUST TRUTH

    WE DON'T SUGARCOAT OUR FOOTPRINT

    We name what’s in our shoes, call out what still needs work, and never claim we're further along than we are. No soft focus

BETTER SHOES START WITH BETTER MATERIALS

WE PUT BIOBASED + NATURAL BEFORE FOSSIL-FUEL SYNTHETICS

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We use these materials as they are:

HIGH PERFORMING →
Durable, flexible and lightweight for growing feet

PLANET-KIND →
Lower impact on the environment from production to end-of-life

COMFORT-FOCUSED →
Soft, breathable + kind to skin

OUR KEY MATERIALS

  •

    WOOL

    A NATURAL PERFORMER

    A renewable, biodegradable fibre that requires no petrochemicals

    Naturally thermoregulating to keep little feet warm in winter and cool in summer. It’s soft, breathable and odour‑resistant, delivering high performance without synthetics

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    COTTON

    GENTLE, BREATHABLE + PLANET KIND

    Cotton is a renewable + biodegradable plant fibre

    Soft against growing skin and highly breathable, it provides everyday comfort where it matters most

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    PLIANT™

    0% PLASTIC OUTSOLE

    Made from hevea tree sap + NFW’s patented plant‑based curative, it’s a soil‑friendly alternative to synthetic foams + completely free of fossil‑fuel plastics

    Delivers flexible, lightweight cushioning and durability without relying on petrochemicals. A first in kids’ footwear

  •

    MIRIM®

    0% PLASTIC. LEATHER, REIMAGINED

    Crafted from natural ingredients like cork, rubber + plant oils. It has no synthetics or fossil‑fuel plastics, and its low‑impact production minimises waste

    It provides a premium leather look, feel, and durability while being kinder to the planet. It is a genuine high‑performance alternative for conscious parents

WE DON'T MAKE SHOES CHEAPLY

WE COULD HAVE MADE SOMEWHERE FURTHER AWAY, EASIER TO IGNORE

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We chose Portugal because where your shoes are made matters just as much as how they’re made

EU-LEVEL PROTECTIONS →
Workers’ rights, environmental standards + material safety are enforced by law, not handshakes

FEWER MILES, FEWER EMISSIONS →
Closer manufacturing means lower transport impact

BETTER QUALITY →
Skilled shoemakers with generations of expertise

TRANSPARENCY BUILT IN →
Being close to production means we see the process, the people, + materials first-hand

PACKAGING MATTERS TOO

STRIPPED BACK TO WHAT’S NEEDED AND NOTHING MORE

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FSC-CERTIFIED CARDBOARD →
From responsibly managed forests

WATER OR SOY-BASED INKS →
Safer for people and the planet

ZERO PLASTIC WRAP, FILLERS, OR FOAMS →
All materials are recyclable

NOTHING MADE TO LINGER →
Designed to return to the cycle, not the landfills

"WE DON’T BELIEVE IN TOKEN GESTURES. WE BELIEVE IN CHANGING HOW KIDS' SHOES ARE MADE — AND WHAT THEY’RE MADE FROM."

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Duncan
BRIGHTLAND CO-FOUNDER